DOHA: The number of Saudi tourists visiting Qatar in the first quarter of this year increased by 16 percent to 280,255 compared to the same period last year, Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) said yesterday.
The first quarter of 2016 saw an 11 percent increase in the number of visitors to Qatar from all GCC countries (403,023) compared to the first quarter of 2015 (361,660), with most of the growth generated by Saudi Arabia.
“Saudi Arabia tops our source markets in terms of its current size and rate of growth over the past five years.
“In the first quarter of 2016, the number of Saudi visitors increased by 16 percent (280,255) compared to the same period in 2015 (241,008),” said Rashed Al Qurese, Chief Marketing and Promotions Officer, QTA.
“This is due in large part to our shared language and heritage, which allows tourists from Saudi Arabia to enjoy the excitement of visiting a luxury destination while feeling at home and ensuring their families are comfortable,” he added.
“We will continue to build on this positioning, especially as we near the summer events popular among GCC tourists, including Eid celebrations in Qatar and Qatar Summer Festival,” he said.
Last year, 1.3 million visitors from the GCC came to Qatar, marking a 16 percent increase from 2014 and following a large-scale promotional drive that involved road shows in Gulf countries. Over 160 travel agents in the region completed QTA’s online TAWASH training programme, which aims to equip travel agents with knowledge of Qatar’s landmarks and unique tourism offerings.
As interest in Qatar among Saudi tourists and travel agents grows, QTA is stepping up efforts to tap into the market through a strong presence at the Riyadh Travel Fair it is joining for the first time as a strategic partner. The Qatar delegation, led by QTA, includes 18 co-exhibitors representing a cross section of Qatar’s tourism sector.
According to Al Qurese, the fair provides an important platform to capitalise on the strong demand from the Saudi market to reinforce Qatar’s position as the destination of choice for Saudi consumers and travel agents.
He said the fair provides a unique opportunity for QTA and its partners to engage directly with consumers looking for their next holiday destination, in addition to travel agents and other professionals in the leisure tourism industry. This is Qatar Destination Brand’s first appearance in Riyadh and being introduced through a newly designed stand and renewed emphasis on Qatar’s offering as a world-class destination with deep cultural roots.”
The fair until tomorrow expects to receive about 20,000 visitors. More than 55 countries are represented through 219 exhibitors.
Co-exhibitors at QTA’s stand (Stand E-1) include: Kempinski Marsa Malaz; Qatar International Adventures; Marriott Marquis City Centre Doha Hotel; InterContinental Doha - The City; Crown Plaza Doha - The Business Park; Holiday Villa Hotel & Residence; Sapphire Plaza Hotel Doha; Warwick Doha Hotel; Grand Heritage Doha Hotel & Spa; Somerset West Bay Hotel; Al Sultan Beach Resort; CORP Executive Hotel Doha; Acon Travel; Amari Doha; Concord Hotel Doha; Doha Downtown Hotel Apartment; Westin Doha Hotel & Spa; and Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel. The Peninsula
